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The New Stenographer
(1911) United States of America
B&W : One reel
Directed by George D. Baker
Cast: Maurice Costello [the office manager], Flora Finch [Lucille Montgomery, the first stenographer], Florence Turner [Lucille’s replacement, her cousin], E.R. Phillips (Edwin R. Phillips) [Mr. Brown], John Bunny [Mr. Robinson], John Trojano (John Troyano) [the cousin’s husband].
The Vitagraph Company of America production; distributed by [?] The Vitagraph Company of America or The General Film Company, Incorporated? / Produced by J. Stuart Blackton. Scenario by Van Dyke Brooke. / Released 18 February 1911. / Standard 35mm spherical 1.33:1 format. / The film was rereleased in the USA on 12 August 1914. [?] Cast attributions for Etienne Girardot, Hughie Mack, Albert Roccardi, Wally Van and Lillian Walker are incorrect.
Comedy.
Synopsis: [?] [From The Moving Picture World]? Brown & Robinson advertise for a stenographer and typewriter. The next morning an applicant puts in an appearance. The clerk greets her, but when he sees her face he is paralyzed. She is very capable, but extremely homely. When the heads of the concern arrive at the office they are introduced to the lady, and they are pained when they see her “phiz.” As a business proposition she is all right; as an ornament she is a mistake. She manages to hold down her position with credit to herself and profit to her concern. At the end of a few months she becomes indisposed and asks for a few months she becomes indisposed and asks for two weeks’ leave of absence, which is granted, with the understanding that she will provide a substitute. She sends her cousin to take her place, and she is a “beaut,” who wins over the bosses and the clerk. They in every way try to make themselves agreeable. She accepts their presents, but withstands their invitations to dine and a night at the show. On the last day a very funny looking “sawed-off” and “hammered-down runt” puts in an appearance. She greets him as “honey,” and introduces him to Messrs. Brown and Robinson as her husband. With crestfallen countenances they declare themselves “stung.” At this climax old “funny face” returns. She is left alone in her glory, while Brown and Robinson go out for a nerve tonic and the clerk gets undercover to escape the agony.
Survival status: Print exists in the Library of Congress film archive.
Current rights holder: Public domain [USA].
Listing updated: 26 October 2024.
References: Film viewing : Blum-Silent p. 17; Tarbox-Lost p. 182 : Website-IMDb.
Home video: Blu-ray Disc.
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